File:
<phycitid.htm> [For
educational purposes only] Glossary <Principal Natural Enemy Groups > <Citations> <Home> |
LEPIDOPTERA, Phycitidae -- <Images> & <Juveniles> This largely phytophagous of scavenger family contains several
species which feed entirely on other insects, especially in the orders
Lepidoptera and Homoptera. Phytica dentilinella Hamp. is a predator of pupae of several Lepidoptera
in India. During some seasons it is
found abundantly in cocoons of the nettle grub, Parasa lepida Cram.
(Ayyar 1929). It is thought that the
young Phycita larva reaches the
host prior to cocoon formation.
Infested cocoons have thinner walls than those of healthy hosts, and
this indicates a certain amount of feeding by the predator larva while the
host was still active (Clausen 1940/1962). An undescribed species from southern Africa was studied by van
der Merwe (1921). One to 6 1st instar
larvae were found on almost mature larvae of Dasychira extorta on
the foliage of fig trees. Feeding was
very extensive on the body fluids of the Dasychira
larva, and after its death the predator may move to another host. Oviposition was not observed, but eggs
were found on cast skins. The young
larvae apparently do not feed extensively until the host spins its
cocoon. Thereafter occurs a rather
long resting period, after which either the host larva or the pupa is quickly
consumed. Mature larvae measure 25
mm. long, and the larval period ranges from 6-12 months, and the pupal period
from 18-30 days. Adults show mostly
during late summer. Clausen (1940)
believed that this species was far advanced toward obligate parasitism,
because of the ability of some individuals to attain maturity on a single
host. Ayyar (1929) recorded Euzophera
cocciphaga Hamp. as a predator on
the eggs and young larvae of the giant monophlebine coccid, Aspidoproctus xyliae Gr., infesting rain trees in India. The greenish-yellow eggs are laid singly
on the host's dorsum, most often in the posterior region. Newly hatched caterpillars crawl about
over the scale for a while but eventually find their way beneath the body. One to 3 larvae may be found beneath each
scale. Shortly after feeding begins,
they securely fasten the margins of the scale insect to the substratum with
silken strands. This is thought to
serve the purpose of preventing emergence of the host larvae after hatching. It was observed that no larvae ever
emerged from parent scales known to be infested, and yet when a passageway
was made through the silken barrier they emerged in numbers. Mature parasitoid larvae are grayish-green
and ca. 6.5 mm. long. Pupation occurs
within a tubular cocoon beneath the host remains. Other Indian species of this genus are known as stem borers or
fruit feeders. Laetilia coccidivora Comst. is a predator on
the terrapin scale, Lecanium nigrofasciatum Perg., and attacks
others also, particularly Ceroplastes,
Icerya and Pulvinaria (Simanton 1916a).
First brood eggs are laid singly among the mature scales during early
June, and feeding is mainly on gravid females. A delicate silken tube is constructed from scale to scale,
within which pupation occurs. Larvae
of the second brood feed on the young scales during late summer. Vitula
saissetiae Dyar is predaceous on Saissetia sp. in Panama, and the
larvae of V. edmandii Comst. has been collected in bumblebee nests in North
America (Clausen 1940/1962). Cereobata coccophthora Turn. is predaceous on Eriococcus, and its behavior,
including the provision of a dorsal shield, is quite similar to that of the
noctuid Eublemma. Cryptoblabes
gnidiella Mill., normally feeds on
plant foliage, but it also has been observed to feed extensively on the various
stages of Aleurocanthus spp. in
Malaya (Clausen 1940/1962). References: Please refer
to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional
references may be found at: MELVYL Library] |